Liquid-fuel burner.



T. B. FERGUSON.

LIQUID FUEL BURNER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1912.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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' MvW T. B. FERGUSON.

LIQUID FUEL BURNER. APPLICATION FILED JAN.5,1912.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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T. B. FERGU$ON.

LIQUID FUEL BURNER.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 5. 1912v Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Jam m wy MW ing flame-guarding THOMAS B. FERGUSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LIQUID-FUEL BURNER.

Application filed January 5, 1912.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10,1914.

Serial No. 669,619.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the city of New York, countyof Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in LiquidFuel Burners, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to burners for kerosene and other liquidhydrocarbons, and is particularly intended for producing a heatingflame, and constitutes a modification of the burner of the same classillustrated and described in my companion application filed January 5,1912, Sr. No. 669,620. The burner of such companion application ischaracterized by a burner proper comprisand flame-deflecting meansarranged to deflect a flame jet backwardly or downwardly and outwardlyin the form of a flame annulus; which flame then spreads laterally andoutwardly, in-

closing a space through which passes a return bend vaporizing tube,through which tube the oil is passed in order that same may be vaporizedbefore it is projected outward; The} construction of such burner is suchthat the 7 from the burner to form the flame.

flame does not directly play upon the vaporizing tube, except where suchtube passes at} right angles across the path of the flame; and theportions of such tube so passing; across the flame are so small, and areso; situated with respect to the main vaporizing;

portion of the tube, that such slight direct action of the flame has nodetrimental effect. The main portion of the vaporizlng tubei is heatedin the main by heat radiated from the flame but modified by a down-draftof air induced by the flame itself in its passage through the burner;such down-draft air passing into the interior of the flame-- deflectingmeans and there mingling with the flame gases and helping to supportcombustion. Other features which also characterize said burner of mycompanion application it is not necessary to refer to at this point.

The burner herein illustrated and described is of the same generalnature as the and very effective burner of the class de-.

scribed; to avoid formation of deposits in the vaporizing tube, and toso design the burner that its flame shall be little disturbed byexternal air drafts.

Other objects of my invention will appear hereafter.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings and will then point out the novel features inclaims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a central vertical section of one formof my improved burner mounted upon a suitable tank. Fig. 2 shows a sideelevation of my improved burner looking from the right hand side of Fig.1, portions of the burner being broken away and other portions beingshown in section. Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section of the burner on theline a2-m of Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows a detail elevation and partial sectionof means for supplying water to the water trough of the burner. Fig. 5shows a top view of the burner, the vaporizing tube being sectionedhorizontally; and Fig. 6 shows a horizontal section of the burner on theline 1 of Fig. 2, portions of the burner being shown as broken away todisclose other parts below, some of which other parts are also shown inhorizontal section.

In the drawings 1 designates a pressure tank containing the kerosene orother fuel for the burner, and 2 a pipe for conveying the oil from tank1 to the vaporizing tube 3, The upper portion of the tank 1 is,customarily, an air space containing air or other gas under pressuresufficient to force the oil up into the vaporizing tube. Pipe 2terminates in a screw-connection 4 screwing into a bore 6 formed in aburner base 5 and one branch of the vaporizing tube also screws intothis bore, the said burner base therefore forming a connection betweenpipe 2 and the vaporizing tube 3. The other side of the vaporizing tubescrews into a further bore 7 formed in the burner base, andcommunicating with a gas conduit 8 provided in burner base 5. A conduit9 leads from this gas conduit 8 and is provided at its top with a burnerorifice 11. A needle valve 12 in pipe 2 regulates the flow of oil intothe vaporizing tube and so regulates the flow of gas to the burnerorifice 11.

The space 13 immediately above the burner orifice 11 constitutes aninitial combustion space. this space being inclosed by a two part shell.1415, member 14.- having in it suitable air inlet openings 16, andmember 15 having near its top a gas exit opening 17, such opening 17being preferably somewhat to one side as indicated in Fig. 1. The member14 has at its lower end a hub 10 screwing upon the upper end of the tube9. The section 14 of said shell has projecting from it a platform 18.above the member 15 of the initial-combustion chamber shell is abell-shaped member 19 constituting a flame-guard and flame-deflector.Thismember 19 rests upon spurs 151 projecting from member 15. At its topflame-deflector 19 is provided with a projecting flange 191 upon whichrests a further flame deflector 21. Flame deflector 19 is providedinternally with a head 27, removably secured to said member 19 as shown,and therefore replaceable if occasion for replacement arises; and withinsaid member 19 there is also a conical liner sleeve 271, separated frommember 15 by a slight space and also separated from the inner wall ofmember 19 by a slight space, and spaced from member 19 by bosses 272provided at suitable intervals. There are ports 28 between the top ofliner 271 and the bottom of member 27, for the passage of flame andcombustible gases into the space between members 19 and 271; and thereis also space between the inner surface of liner 271 and the outersurface of member 15, for the passage of flame between said members 15and 271. The structure 1927271 therefore constitutes a flame-deflectoradapted to direct the flame from burner orifice 11 backwardly ordownwardly and as a flame annulus; which flame annulus, as it emerges atthe lower edges of members 19 and 271, is directed outwardly by member18 and, being prevented from rising immediately by the de- Hector 2].,passes the lower edge of said deflector 21 and thence rises upwardly asa flame annulus, inclosing, but not ordinarily impinging upon,vaporizing tube 3.

In the top of member 19 there are air ports 24 communicating with anannular space 273 formed in head 27, said head having at its top ports274 for the passage of air from such annular space 273 into the spacebetween the inner surface of member 19 and the outer surface of members27 and 271. The top of the member 19 is further provided with other airadmission ports 241 leading to the space between the outer surface ofmember 19 and the inner surface of member 21; and directly beneath theseports 241 is a U-section draft guard 242 which turns upwardly airentering through ports 241, such air passing over the upper edges ofmember 242 and also through port-s 243 formed in the upper edges ofmember 242 and thence downward, mingling with the flame and combustiblegases passing over the surface of platform 18. -As will be seen, theports 24 and 241 are very effectively guarded, so that the air enteringthrough them must spread out well before it mixes with the flame; theresult of which is to avoid excessive local combustion in the flame,that is to say, to avoid too complete combustion before the gases havepassed beneath the lip at the bottom of member 21 and to promotethorough mixture of the entering air with th flaming gases. It will alsobe noted that by the construction described, the members 19 and 27-271are thoroughly jacketed by entering air currents, and are therebyprotected against excessive temperatures.

The vaporizing tube 3 is, according to the construction shown in Fig. 1,composed of side portions or legs 3 screw-connected at the top to across member 3 of somewhat greater diameter than the legs 3 Suchsectional construction is rendered feasible in a burner of this sort, byreason of the fact that, owing to the wide spread of the flame inforcedby the deflectors and platform 18, the flame does notplay directly uponthe screw-joints of the vaporizing tube.

Beneath the platform 18 there is a water trough 31, to which water issupplied by means hereafter described. There are ports 29 and 30 inplatform 18, which permit water vapor formed in this trough to minglewith the flame passing over the platform 18; and there are ports 31 inthe trough permitting water vapor also to mingle with the air currentsentering air ports 16 of member 14. I have found that admixture of watervapor with the flame, is desirable in most cases and that the watervapor thus mingled with the flame materially modifies the character ofthe flame, producing a much hotter flame than would otherwise beobtained, and one that is much less likely to deposit carbon, and alsopreventing roaring of the flame.

Ta-ter is supplied to trough 31 by means of a pipe 311 (Figs. 1 and 4).Water is supplied to said pipe 311 by any suitable means. I haveindicated for the purpose, in Fig. 4, a water tank 312 provided with adischarge-cock 313, the water dripping from which enters a cup 314 andthence flows into pipe 311. I have shown tank 312 as supported from pipe311 by a post 315; but the manner of support of the water tank isimmaterial. In operation, water is allowed to fall usually drop by drop,from cock 313 into cup 314.

The action of this burner, supposing itto be already in operation, is asfollows: Oil, forced upward from the tank 1 to pipe 2, by the pressureof compressed air or other gas in said tank, passes into the vaporizingtube 3, and in passing through said tube is subjected to heat radiatedinward from the hollow cylindrical flame surrounding said tube andpassing up around deflector 21,

LOO

the radiation of such heat being modified as to its influence on thevaporizing tube, by the downwardly flowing current of relatively coldair, which enters the ports of deflector 19. Where the legs of thevaporizing tube pass through the flame, as they do just above theplatform 18, they are transverse to the path of the flame, the portionof the tube so passing through the flame being therefore very small.Moreover, in one of such portions of the vaporizing tube, the oil isstill too cold to be vaporized, whereas in the other leg of such tubethe oil exists in the form of a vapor; therefore the direct action ofthe flame on these small portions of the tube will not cause formationof deposits in either case.

By reason of the substantial freedom of the vaporizing tube from actualcontact with the flame, and by reason of the modifying action of thedownwardly flowing air current within the flame annulus, the vaporizingtube is maintained at a relatively moderate temperature which, however,is sulficiently high to thoroughly vaporize the oil, but without causingcracking of the oil, such as results in formation of carbon or tardeposits.

The oil vapor produced in the vaporizing tube passes into the gas cnduit 8 of the burner base and thence up through conduit 9, emergingthrough the burner orifice 11. Owing to the pressure maintained with inthe vaporizing tube 3, the gas issues from the burner orifice 11 withgreat velocity, drawing in air through the air ports 16. Combustionbegins ordinarily within the structure lll5, and as the partly burnedgases are deflect-ed downward by the deflecting structure 27271-19, theydraw in air through ports 24 and 241 which air assists in maintainingcombustion of the gases, besides ]n'otecting the parts of theflame-deflecting structure against overheating. The gases pass throughthe annular space between members 15 and 271, and also through theannular space between members 271 and 19, and below the lower edge ofthe deflector 21, and thence pass more or less directly upward in theform of a flame annulus. During the passage of the gases as described,considerable water vapor, resulting from evaporation of water in thetrough 31, is mingled with them, modifying the flame and increasing itsheating power. The heat thus produced is very intense and, being welldiffused, is well. calculated to heat objects rapidly and efficiently.At the same time, the flame is so protected by the structure1-i.1519-2727l, and platform 18, that it is very little affected byexternal air drafts. The flame is readily regulated by means of theneedle valve 12. Owing to the fact that flame orifice 17 is somewhat toone side of the axis, the flame has a peculiar retary motion within theburner, which motion helps to insure thorough mixture of the air withthe combustible gases. The frequent changes in direction of the flame,produced by the deflecting structure described, also help to insurethorough mixture of air with the combustible gases.

For starting the burner into action, that is to say, for heating up thestructure 14t--15-19, etc, and vaporizing tube 3, I employ a startingburner 39 illustrated particularly in Figs. 2 and 6. The constructionand operation of this starting burner is fully illustrated and describedin my companion application above referred to, and need not be describedherein, except by the statement that it is in effect a small Bunsenburner receiving oil from the tank 1 or other suitable source of supply,heating such oil by passing it through a vaporizing tube n, and thenceprojectin it through the Bunsen tube 40.

The main burner herein described is capable of making gas inconsiderably greater quantity than required for the burner itself; andsince it is frequently desirable to maintain an illuminating flame orother small flame in addition to the main flame of the burner, in suchcases I provide a valve 4:6 connecting with the gas conduit 8 of theburner base and communicating with a pipe 47 leading to any suitablepoint, as for example, to a valve l-S to which a suitable burner may beapplied. A pipe 171 leads back from pipe 47 to the interior of flamedeflector 19, the inner end of this pipe 171 being closed by a plug 172,except for a very small hole through such plug. This pipe 471 serves tolead into the main flame liquid which may accumulate in the upperportion of pipe 47 and in valve 18, due to condensation or other causes.

The burner base 5 is provided with a trough 4L9 to receive any possibledrip from the main burner. Said burner base 5 is further provided with acleaning rod 50, within gas conduit 9 and mounted upon the end of ascrew 51 passing through a suitable stuiiing box of base 5. Normally,this cleaning rod is backed away from burner orifice 11; but if for anyreason burner orifice 11 becomes obstructed, the cleaning rod may beforced through such orifice, by means of screw 51, clearing said orificeof any such obstruction. The end of the screw 51, being adapted to seatagainst the lower end of tube 9, forms a valve, supplemental to valve12, for regulating the action of the burner; and the rod 50 forms afurther supplemental valve, since when in, or in close promimity to,orifice 11, it restricts flow through that orifice.

The burner herein described is particularly intended for use in stoves,furnaces, etc, and therefore is not shown as provided with theforamiuous tiameguards with which burners intended for use in the outerair are commonly provided. If, however, it be desired to use this burnerin the open air, rather than within an inclosure, such as the fire potof astove or furnace, such foraminous flame-guards may be provided andmay be mounted upon platform 1&.

In certain of the following claims I have referred to the lower ends ofthe flame deflectors 19 and 21 as the rear ends thereof, it beingobvious that the burner is capable of operation in positions other thanvertical, and therefore that the said rear ends of the deflectors arenot necessarily lower ends thereof.

lVhat I claim is l. A burner comprising in combination an inclosurecontaining an initial combustion chamber, said inclosure having aflameescape orifice, a flame-deflector in the path of flame projectedfrom said orifice and arranged to deflect such flame backward and as aflame annulus, said deflector open at its rear end, and a liner withinsaid deflector and between said inclosure and deflector, there being apassage between said inclosure and said liner, the recited structurebeing provided with means connecting the space within the liner with thespace between said liner and deflector.

2. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing an initialcombustion chamber, said inclosure having a flameescape orifice, aflame-deflector in the path of flame projected from said orifice andarranged to deflect such flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end, and a liner within said deflector andbetween said inclosure and deflector, there being a passage between saidinclosure and said liner and another passage between said liner and saiddeflector, the recited structure being provided with means connectingthe space within the liner with the space between said liner anddeflector.

3. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing an initialcombustion chamber, said inclosure having a flameescape orifice, a flamedeflector in the path of flame projected from said orifice and arrangedto deflect such flame backward and as a flame annulus, said deflectoropen at its rear end, and a liner within said deflector and between saidinclosure and deflector, there being a passage between said in closureand said liner, the recited structure being provided with meansconnecting the space within the liner with the space between said linerand deflector, and being further provided with means for the admissionof air to the space between the liner and deflector. a

at. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing aninitial combustion chamber, said inclosure having a flameescape orifice,a flame-deflector in the path of flame projected from said orifice andarranged to deflect such flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end, a liner within said deflector andbetween said inclosure and deflector, there being a passage between saidinclosure and said liner, the recited structure being provided withmeans connecting the space within the liner with the space between saidliner and deflector, and a further deflector surrounding saidfirst-mentioned deflector.

5. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing an initialcombustion chamber, said inclosure having a flame escape orifice, aflame deflector in the path of flame projecting from said orifice andarranged to deflect such flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end, a liner within said deflector andbetween said inclosure and deflector, there being a passage between saidinclosure and said liner, the recited structure being provided withmeans connecting the space within the liner with the space between saidliner and deflector, and a further deflector surrounding saidfirst1nentioned deflector, the recited structure being provided withmeans for the admission of air into the space bc tween said twodeflectors.

6. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing an initialcombustion chamber. said inclosure having a flame-escape orifice, aflame deflector in the path of the flame projected from said orifice,and arranged to deflect such flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end and provided with a projecting flange,and a further flame-deflector resting upon said flange.

7. A. burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing aninitial combustion chamber, said inclosure having a flameescape orifice,a flame deflector in the path of the flame projected from said orifice,and arranged to deflect such flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end and provided with a projecting flange,and a further flame-deflector resting upon said flange, the recitedstructure being provided with means for the admission of air to thespace between said two deflectors.

8. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing an initialcombustion chamber, said inclosure having a flameescape orifice, a flamedeflector in the path of the flame projected from said orifice, andarranged to deflect such flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end and provided with a projecting flange,and a further flame-deflector resting upon said flange. said first-nameddeflector provided with air ports in its said flange for the admissionof air to the space between said two deflectors.

9. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing an initialcombustion chamber, said inclosure having a flame-escape orifice, aflame-deflector in the path of the flame projected from said orifice,and arranged to deflect such flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end and provided with a projecting flange,and a further flame-deflector resting upon said flange, the recitedstructure being provided with means for the admission of air to thespace between said two deflectors, and a draft diffuser in the path ofthe air so entering such space.

10. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing aninitial combustion chamber, said inclosure having a flameescape orifice,a flame-deflector in the path of the flame projected from said orifice,and arranged to deflect such flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end and provided with a projecting flange,and a further flame-deflector resting upon said flange, the recitedstructure being provided with means for the admission of air to thespace between said two deflectors, and a draft difluser of Useetion inthe path of the air so entering such space.

11. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing aninitial combustion chamber, said inclosure having a flame-escapeorifice, a flamedefleetor in the path of flame projected from saidorifice and arranged to deflect said flame backward and as a flameannulus, said deflector open at its rear end, and provided internallywith a defleeting head in the path of the flame projected from suchorifice, and a liner within said deflector and between said inclosureand deflector, there being a passage between said inclosure and saidliner and a passage be tween said liner and head.

12. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing aninitial combustion chamber, said inclosure having a flameeseape orifice,a flame-deflector in the path of flame projecting from said orifice andarranged to deflect said flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end, and provided internally with adeflecting head in the path of the flame projected from such orifice,and a liner within said deflector and between said inclosure anddeflector, there being a passage between said inclosure and said linerand a passage between said liner and head, the recited structure beingprovided with means for the admission of air to the space between saiddeflector and said liner.

13. A burner comprising in combination an inclosure containing aninitial combustion chamber, said inclosure having a flameescape orifice,a flame deflector in the path of flame projected from said orifice andarranged to deflect said flame backward and as a flame annulus, saiddeflector open at its rear end, and provided internally with adefleeting head in the path of the flame projected from such orifice,and a liner within said deflector and between said inclosure anddeflector, there being a passage between said inclosure and said linerand a passage between said liner and head, there being an air spacein'the upper portion of said head, such air space in communication withthe space between said liner and deflector, said deflector having meansfor the admission of air to such air space.

14. A burner comprising a hollow flamedeflector closed at one end, and adeflecting head within said deflector and having an air space formed inthat portion of it which is in proximity to the closed end of suchdeflector, said deflector provided with means in its said closed end forthe admission of air to such air space.

15. A burner comprising a hollow flamedefiector closed at one end, and adeflecting head within said deflector and near the closed end thereofand spaced away from the sides of said flame-deflector, said head havingwithin it an air space and being provided with ports connecting such airspace with the space around said head, said deflector having in itsclosed end means for the admission of air to such air space.

16. A burner comprising a hollow flamedeflector closed at one end andopen at the other, and provided with a projecting flange, and a furtherdeflector resting upon said flange and inclosing with said first-nameddeflector a space open at the same end at which the flame-deflector isopen, the recited structure being provided with means for the admissionof air to such space, and a draftdifluser in the path of air so enteringsuch space. V

1.7. A burner comprising a hollow fla1nedeflector closed at one end andopen at the other, and provided with a projecting flange and a furtherdeflector resting upon said flange and inclosing with said first-nameddeflector a space open at the same end at which the flame-deflector isopen, the recited structure being provided with means for the admissionof air to such space, and a draft difluser of U-section in the path ofair so entering such space.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS B. FERGUSON.

lVitnesses H. M. MARBLE, D. A. DAVIES.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patuh, Washington, D. C.

